Missions -- New Guinea; New Guinea -- Description and travel
29_th_.--We had a strange sort of a hut for sleeping-quarters on the top
of a rock. The house, being open all round, felt exceedingly cold when
the fire went down. The people here seem much lighter than at the other
place, and the children have a more pleasant expression. Basaltic rocks
lie scattered about in every direction. We had our flag flying, and the
admiration was great, the natives viewing it from underneath then from a
distance, and in each position noticing something new. About half-past
eleven we left. The old chief and four carriers went with us. After
crossing the head of the Munikahila Creek we passed through fine thickly-
wooded country, that may yet become a very extensive coffee country.
After travelling for some hours, we camped 1800 feet above sea-level. On
the way the carriers struck and were for going back, but we insisted on
their going on a little further. Strange formation of country all around
here. This ridge seems alone in a large basin, one side of which is bare
perpendicular rock. There is a good quantity of cedar, but so difficult
to get away that it would never pay to work. We are north-east from
Uakinumu.
30_th_.--We started late, continued our journey along the ridge, rising
gradually to 2250 feet, and then along a fine level country for some
miles, when we began to descend. Soon our old friend began shouting, and
received an answer from a village a long way off. Close by us was a very
steep descent, down which we went till we came under the shadow of a
great rock, where we rested, and in about an hour up came ten natives
unarmed, touched our chins, and we theirs, then all squatted to smoke.
One of them, some time ago, had been to the coast, and knew Rua; his joy
at now seeing him in here was great. A shot had been fired at a cockatoo
before they heard the shouting, and they were much afraid. When all
seemed satisfied, and the crust of the news broken, I proposed a start,
so up bundles, and away we went. When having gone about two miles, there
was a halt in an open space, and we were given to understand we must camp
there. I could not agree to it, "We must go on to the village." "No,
you must stay here."
"We cannot; we must go on."
"If you go on you will be devoured by the _boroma badababa_ (great pig)."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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